Mending The Past To A Better Future

Ch3. Ninja Initiation Day

Naruto decided that day when she rose for her match at Training Ground 28 that she was going to have to do this the hard way. She couldn't afford to form relationships and bonds with any of the people and as much as it would kill her to put some much needed distance between her and everyone else, it was a necessary evil. If it meant she managed to finish her mission more efficiently, it had to be done. Plus, it would be easier to cut ties when she left this time if she didn't make any to begin with.

She had a future to save and that took precedent over everything else. The friendly disposition she had going for her would be going down the drain soon enough. And, to be honest, whatever they thought about her was moot. Liking her wasn't important. Afterall, one of the very first rules taught at the Academy was that a shinobi always puts the mission first.

With that in mind, she skipped breakfast and shucked on her new shinobi grade uniform. She was early so she grabbed her ink pot and scrolls as well. If she was going to be successful, her sealing would be useful.

Naru's travels to Training Ground 28 were nostalgic . The feeling of the bright sun washing over her already tan features felt like dipping in a pool of warmth and love. When she breathed, the air was not stale like it had been back in her time, and the smell of ramen and trees and dirt and fresh water wafted through the air and invaded her senses. It would be so easy to just... forget the mission.

'Shut up,' she told herself.

No one else had arrived at the training ground when she got there. Naru sat under a tree that had dappled apples, and spread out her scrolling paper and got to work. Before she had left for this timeline, Obito and her had gone through seals they thought would be necessary for her to learn. Dipping her brush carefully into the ink pot, she let a drop of the dark liquid arc through the air before she brought it down on her paper. Each one of her strokes flowed like water, smoothly and without falter. It was a storage seal, which would be convenient for carrying weaponry like shuriken, kunai, and senbon, as well as her sealing materials.

When she was done, she waved a chakra coated hand over the seal and slapped her own arm. Learning how to transfer seals onto her own person had been difficult, but now that she knew how, it made life a lot easier.

A voice came from behind her. "Shinobi that live in Uzushiogakure are notorious for being covered in seals. It's no surprise that you would pick up on their customs regardless of your young departure from the village." When she turned around, she wanted to give Minato the biggest smile, but she reeled it in.

Calm and collected. No attachments.

"We are, Minato-san", She said steadily, turning back to her papers. "I've found them very useful to have while in battle. Of course, most of them don't last a long time. Only as long as I need them."

"That's very impressive for you to have learned how to do. You're so young." There was almost a sliver of pride in his voice, and oh god, her heart ached.

His shadow was cast over her scrolls and she clacked her teeth together in false annoyance. "Can you move out the way? I can't see what I'm doing."

There was a moment of silence before he murmured, "My apologies, Naruto-chan." His tall figure moved out the way. Naru let the robotic movements of her brush calm her. "As you know, you'll be taking a test today to administer your place here in Konoha. Myself and Fugaku Uchiha will be overseeing your match."

"Who will I be fighting?"

"Your opponent today is Kakashi. Of course, we won't be placing you based on whether or not you win today. You'll be promoted based on your demonstration of skill and logistics used in the match. If we can see that you know how to utilize your chakra and what you've learned sufficiently in battle, then it won't matter if you win or not."